In Defense of Doves: Winged Emissaries of the Wild | By Jay Cooney

A flock of feral pigeons, the descendants of domesticated Rock Doves. Photo courtesy of Meg Miller.

Living in an urban apartment complex, you learn to appreciate the sparse wildlife around you. Lately, I’ve taken notice of the local pigeons and doves. The more attention you grant these commonplace birds, the more you appreciate their respective charisma. There are the striking hues of violet and green visible when a feral pigeon’s feathers catch the light, the sky-blue ring that accentuates a White-winged Dove’s red eye, and their gentle cooing that mesmerizes indoor cats. Pigeons and doves are sometimes scorned as overabundant pests who crowd bird feeders, hog seed from more desirable species, and stain buildings with their droppings. The fact that these birds flock to our built environments reflects a rich history and cosmopolitan ecology that might garner our appreciation.

The gregarious pigeon colonies across American cities reflect a story of abandonment. These urban pigeons are the descendants of domesticated Rock Doves gone feral, meaning they were once bred in captivity but now range and reproduce outside of human care. Pigeons were first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent around 5,000 years ago, and they have since served us as prized pets and trusted messengers. Over 350 domestic pigeon breeds exist, whose variation in plumage and anatomy captivated no less than Charles Darwin. Their adept homing abilities made them crucial message carriers in the heat of combat during World War II. When pigeons’ popularity faded, former fanciers released them into cities, where they face hostile architecture like anti-bird spikes. An old bond was discarded by a throwaway culture. Guided by their ancestral affinity for rocky outcroppings, feral pigeons now find shelter on building ledges, seeking warmth and refuse on the outskirts of our company.

The most common native dove species of New Mexico are Mourning Doves and White-winged Doves. These birds are widespread across grasslands and desert shrub lands where they play a key role in seed dispersal. White-winged Doves are vital pollinators for the flowers of towering saguaro cacti, being nourished by their nectar and fruit in return. Both dove species have adapted to human-modified environments like agricultural fields, where they are often hunted as a cornerstone of rural wild food sources. They have also moved into cities and suburbs, taking advantage of millet and sunflower seeds in our bird feeders. Their now-extinct relative, the Passenger Pigeon, once darkened the skies of eastern America in densities that ecologist Aldo Leopold declared “a biological storm.”

We tend to view animals who thrive in our artificial environments with skepticism, but they represent the wildness that persists among us and offers a chance to counter the growing ‘extinction of experience.’ The Mourning Dove’s coos are often described as nostalgic sounds of childhood, reawakening a formative attention to place. Cognitive research shows that feral pigeons possess remarkable memories, even for human faces, reminding us that nonhuman intelligence inhabits our densest cities. Still, if you want to keep pigeons and doves from monopolizing your bird feeder, you can use a cage to restrict their access, offer harder seed cylinders, or remove food until they clear out. For the sake of a future more tolerant of urban wildlife, I encourage you to reconsider outright rejection of these winged emissaries of the wild.

Jay Cooney is a Naturalist at Wild Birds Unlimited of Santa Fe